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Building Accomplishments


"The buildings are important, yes, and we're glad to have them. But they're important because they support us to practice the Dharma, to transform our minds. Their value is in helping to create conducive circumstances for practice."

Ven. Thubten Chodron


Building Accomplishments

When we bought the Abbey property in October 2003, it included a large house with lots of natural light, a barn with a workshop, a storage cabin, a two-car garage, and a large garden.

Over the years we have renovated existing structures and built new ones to transform the property into a monastery.

Hundreds of volunteers and benefactors have given the time, talent, and material resources to build Sravasti Abbey. Our latest building projects are detailed on asteptowardspeace.org.

Meditation Hall

Completed November 2004

The meditation hall is the heart of the Abbey. It is here where we meditate, listen to teachings and discuss the Dharma. Thus it was a top priority and we began to work on it right away.

Here's the inside of our inspiring meditation hall:

Look at how we transformed a garage into a place of the Dharma.

Before:

The previous owners parked their two cars in this log-cabin style garage. Implements and adornments were typical of a garage, and a large kerosene tank sat in the corner.

During:


First the roof came off so we could put in shed dormers to let the light in.

Jigme and Kari begin on the interior work, cutting wood for the altar.

A happy team preparing the inside of the meditation hall.

After:


The sun sets behind our completed Meditation Hall.

Ven. Chodron and Ven. Jampa cut ribbon and open the Meditation Hall.

Ven. Chodron and Ven. Jampa lead the way into the hall.

Now the Buddhas have a home at the Abbey and we have a place to practice.

Autumn 2011 - Getting ready to move the Hall. Here we are relocting the kangyur and tengyer, the precious texts containing the Buddha’s teachings and the Indian commentaries. Everyone pitches in.  Click here for the whole story.

Downstairs Renovation

The unfinished daylight basement in the house was cold concrete and wood framing with just one bedroom. Now there are three bedrooms, a large, active office and sitting room, tea room, and pantry.


Here are Tarpa and Teri working away in the comfortable office space

Before:

The downstairs as it looked when we first saw the house.

During:


Ven. Tsepal and Karri, together with
Mel, put up the ceiling.
Guys vs. concrete: Sean and Morgan bring light into darkness as they take turns hammering out the concrete for the back bedroom window.

Geshe Gedun Samdup and Sean transform cold concrete
into a comfy floor.

After:


It's easy to work when we have suitable facilities.

Visiting Ven. Venaya (Chanlu) relaxes in the sitting area.
Mary, our computer expert, unravels technical issues for under the compassionate gaze of Buddha and Tara.

Working comfortably in the office, visiting Chinese nuns work with Ven. Chodron to prepare a Bhikshuni ordination ceremony into English.

Writing Studio

As the community grew, Ven. Chodron needed a quiet place to work. Her students got together and gave her a writing studio. They did the majority of the building themselves, with some help from professionals, and now new books are on the way.

Before:

It began as an empty space with a beautiful view

During:


Carving out the space beneath the willow tree.

After:


A beautiful place to write and meditate.

May the wisdom of Manjushri inspire
writing and teaching the Dharma.

Retreat Cabin

Completed 2004 & revisited 2011

At the foot of the garden, the retreat cabin now offers a quiet place to meditate. However we had to ask the mice and flies to move out first! The old log cabin—possibly 100 years old—had been used as a garden shed. Work was necessary to winterize it so it could be used for retreats year round, which we did in 2004.

Then, in 2011, we discovered an invasion of carpenter ants. We gently moved them to a new home in the forest, then jacked up the cabin, gave it a concrete foundation, restored the old logs, and caulked it all thoroughly.

2004:


Tom and Miles winterized the retreat cabin (formerly a storage shed).
Jeff put a new roof.


Barbara takes the retreat cabin on its maiden voyage
— a winter Tara retreat


Summer 2011 - The old retreat cabin gets a new roof and a skylight. The remodel ensures a warmer, sturdier cabin for years to come.

Community Room

As our activities expanded, we needed more space for residents and guests. The spacious barn was an underutilized resource until we made a comfy room in one of its bays.

Before:

Before:

A barn bay storing firewood and equipment.

The community room starts to take shape. Three windows are put in
and the old cedar walls removed.

Sean does the electrical work.
We are so grateful for his help.

Eleanor and Joan show off their hammers as they work on the walls in the barn.

Visitors and residents read and discuss in the community room.

The wood pile now sits outside and the community room
is ready for meetings, study, and guests.

Kitchen Remodel

Completed April 2008

At first Ven. Chodron lived at the Abbey alone with two cats. When visitors came, all could fit around an ordinary dining table. Eventually, with more than 25 attendees for retreats, it became clear the kitchen was no longer up to the challenge. The renovations where spearheaded by Carl Willmott (now Ven. Jampel). Of course now, we have outgrown this kitchen and dining space too. That’s why we’re planning to build Chenrezig Hall.


The two Carls, father and son, resting in the partially renovated kitchen

Alec, Natalie and Venerable Ghache making one of the first meals in the renovated kitchen in April 2008

Gotami House

Consecrated in September 2009, Gotami House, named for Mahaprajapati Gotami, the first nun and Siddhartha Gotama's aunt, sits on a southern slope about a hundred yards from the Abbey's meditation hall, kitchen/dining area, and offices. It is the home for the Abbey's nuns and resident lay women, and also offers accommodations for female guests.


Ven. Tarpa, project manager for Gotami House, discusses the plans with Ven. Chodron and Jampel

The scale of the project dwarfed all previous projects.

In hundreds of ways, we worked to conserve, sustain and reuse as much as possible.

The project included basic infrastructue such as these water tanks

By winter, the outside is done - and on the roof, we shovel off the snow.

Work continued inside, day after day.

In August we moved in.

During the dedication weekend, the final touch is added.

Guest Teacher/Retreat Cabin


Ven. Jampel and Carl team up again to start work on the Guest Teacher/Retreat Cabin

The finished cabin. Now we have a place for a guest teachers to stay.

The deck has a terrific view.

Khensur Wangdak Rinpoche is the first lama to enjoy the new cabin.
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